Others

Kookmin’s equity-linked account attracts customers

By Kim Jae-won Some people prefer secure financial products such as term deposits during times of economic crisis, while others enjoy taking risks for higher returns amid lower interest rates and a frozen real estate market. To satisfy the preferences of either customer, KB Kookmin Bank has released an equity market-linked deposit account which offers extra returns based on stock market performance. The product is designed for those seeking both stability and profitability at the same time. Deposit with KB Fund aims to attract customers who are ready to sign up for term deposits but seek higher returns than the interest rates offered. As the biggest lender in the nation, KB Kookmin has reflected on varying customers’ needs by combining the two aspects. Individuals or self-employed clients can open the account, which requires a deposit of at least 3 million won. Contract terms range between six and 36 months. The lender offers 3.9, 4.0 and 4.1 percent in annual interest rates to 12-, 24- and 36-month contracts, respectively. There are five options depending on cust

Korea Investment's pension fund supports life after retirement

By Kim Jae-won Korea Investment & Securities says that consumers can well prepare for their retirement with the brokerage’s pension savings product which provides tax deductions. The product titled “Korea Investment Gold Plan Pension Securities Transferrable 1” is a long-term installment fund which requires at least 10 years of contract. People can get pension payment after the age of 55. A tax deduction is one of the biggest benefits of the product. For pension-related funds, the tax agency provides 100 percent tax deduction on up to 4 million won of investment per year. As Korea is entering an aging society, experts recommend people buy private pension products to brace for life on retirement as the country’s national fund does not provide sufficient funds. According to a recent survey, pensions from the National Pension Service covers only half of expenses after retirement. If a retiree needs 2 million won per month for two decades after retirement, the whole amount reaches around 500 million won. Korea Investment says that safe assets such as term deposits and

Seoul Milk at forefront of milk industry

By Chung Hee-hyung Seoul Milk, Korea’s preeminent manufacturer of milk, has provided quality products to its customers for over its 75 years history. Safety has always been a matter of great importance to the company, and people drinking from its white and green cartons, has been a familiar sight throughout the country’s schools, workplaces, and even the mess halls of the armed forces. The company has always been at the leading edge of the industry. In 2009, it was the first to mark both the manufacturing and expiration date on its products, although the government’s regulation only requires manufactures to mark either one of them. Consumers are ever more concerned about the safety of dairy milk, because the safety record of the industry leaves much to be desired. By providing customers with this crucial piece of information, the company enables them to make informed judgments about the freshness of the milk they buy. Moreover, the move was not the first of its kind by Seoul Milk in its efforts to offers customers products that are tasty, fresh, and most of all saf

Samsung tops smart industry with Galaxy Note

By Cho Mu-hyun Samsung Electronics is leading a new trend in the smart industry with its Galaxy Note which is breaking the borderline between smartphones and tablet PCs. According to the company, their touch-screen device sold over 2 million as of April in the domestic long-term evolution (LTE) market since its launch in November last year, and is expected to soon hit 3 million. The firm says it has sold 7 million globally, and is dominating the domestic LTE area with an over 65 percent market share. Samsung attributes the success of the brand to its large, 5.3 inch super-AMOLED (anti-matrix organic light emitting diode) screen that ensures high definition displays, built for viewing multi-media of the highest quality. Most smartphones currently in the market have a screen size of 4 inches. The Galaxy Note weighs 182 grams, only slightly heavier than the company's recent released Galaxy S3 that weighs 133 grams. The handset contains a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor to ensure fast network speed and a 2,500 mAh battery for a prolonged battery life. It also contains top cla

Samsung to maintain global lead in smart TVs

By Cho Mu-hyun Samsung Electronics is seeking to lead the TV industry for the seventh consecutive year by pushing its latest smart TV along with its already strong product range. The company has taken the television experience to the next level with its latest smart TV ES8000 released in February. The TV features voice and motion recognition sensors enabling close interaction with viewers and strengthened content and upgrade capabilities. The firm says the ES8000 is its representative smart TV brand that has ensures top level video quality, content and design, much like its predecessors the ES 7500 and ES7000. Consumers can control the television via its motion and voice sensors without the need of a remote control. The ES8000 also has a feature dubbed “Smart Evolution,” which allows users to constantly upgrade the television’s processors and software by plugging in a business card sized evolution kit to the back of the television. This year, Samsung has drastically strengthened its content, to make it family oriented. Using “Family Story,” family members can share ph

New M-Class tops premium SUV market

By Kim Tae-jong Mercedes-Benz has proved once again that it is the leader in the premium sports utility vehicle (SUV) market by introducing the third generation M-Class, equipped with new features, seven years after the debut of its previous model. The German automaker's brand new SUV maintains the core aspects of the first two generations of the flagship model, and is tremendously successful with more than 1.2 million vehicles sold worldwide since its introduction. The new M-Class offers the essential elements of the family vehicle through its dynamic driving experience and luxurious comfort but offers much more than its predecessors. At a glance, the design of the new model first draws attention to the nose featuring a huge grille and long bonnet with aggressive air-intakes at the base of the windscreen. Getting inside is a completely new experience, too, thanks to the drastically improved quality of the interior. The diesel engine is surprisingly quiet. In particular, the Mercedes' COMAND system, which controls the car's audio, video and navigation, is much more

LG Electronics leader in air conditioner market

LG Electronics has been an innovator in the premium home appliances market, and its new air conditioners launched ahead of this summer show how far it has come in technology. “Whisen Son Yeon-jae Special,” one of the new models LG introduced to the market this year, exhibits how the company pushes the boundaries of imagination. Son is a popular female rhythmic gymnast. Whisen Son Yeon-jae Special reminds users of the gymnast with its sensuous design and “magic window” system that generates “healthy” air flows. The air conditioner features the magic window system equipped with an LED with a 250 millimeter slim design. It is also praised for generating clean airflow free of harmful bacteria and viruses. The product is also highly energy-efficient. The company said the magic window brings up the image of a window of a cabin in the Alps, meaning air generated by Whisen Son Yeon-jae Special flows into a house as if it blows from the forest. “We applied a 250 millimeter super slim design to our latest air conditioner to take up as little space as possible inside the house,” an

POSCO Chairman Chung Joon-yang, center, pushes a button ...

This is an artist’s impression of Doosan Infracore’s research ...

LG Group Chairman Koo Bon-moo, left, hands the emblem ...